“Love you, mum” - those were the final words Kyle Warren said to his beloved mother just a few days before he died in a terrible car crash which claimed the lives of him and two of his friends.

Kyle Warren, who died in a road crash in Pulham Market. Picture: DARREN GARWELL

Kyle and his friends Billy Hines and Dominic O’Neill had been travelling in Kyle’s black Ford Ka when it came off the road and hit a tree in Pulham Market on Wednesday, April 5.

Car enthusiast Kyle, who leaves behind three brothers and three sisters, had passed his driving test just two weeks before the accident, with his driving licence arriving at his home the morning after the crash.

The 17-year-old, who lived with his mum Helen Orford at their home in Redenhall Road, Harleston, was born in Norwich and spent most of his life living in South Norfolk.

He went to Wortham Primary School before going on to Hartismere and Archbishop Sancroft high schools in Eye and Harleston, finishing his education at the Locksley School in Norwich.

Kyle Warren, who died in a road crash in Pulham Market. Picture: KYLE WARREN'S FAMILY

From an early age, Mrs Orford said Kyle started developing an interest in cars and music, as they were the main interests of his parents.

“He’s grown up with modified cars and lorries,” she said, with his dad Daniel Warren working in the haulage business. “They were always going to be a part of him.”

He also spent his childhood helping his dad to polish lorries ahead of truck shows, which father and son would attend together.

It was those experiences of growing up around cars that led to Kyle pestering his mum to let him take part in banger racing at the Adrian Flux Arena in King’s Lynn.

Kyle Warren, who died in a road crash in Pulham Market. Picture: KYLE WARREN'S FAMILY

His family would go and watch every race he took part in between 2014 and 2015, culminating in Kyle taking the chequered flag to win his final race in December 2015.

“He was obviously chuffed to win but, for him, it wasn’t about winning,” Mrs Orford said.

“What more bothered him was if there was damage to the car and he couldn’t be out on track. He just wanted to be on the track racing - that was all he wanted to do.”

After leaving school he worked at various places, such as for a removals firm, tree surgeon and a window cleaner.

Kyle Warren, who died in a road crash in Pulham Market. Picture: KYLE WARREN'S FAMILY

Most recently he worked on Whitehouse Farm in Wortham, run by his grandfather - who described him as his “right-hand man” on the farm.

But Kyle was perhaps best known for his cheeky smile and kind nature.

“He wasn’t your typical teenage boy,” she said.

“Everyone loved him. He was always very popular. He never got into trouble - he was more the funny clown and the peacemaker than the troublemaker.

Kyle Warren, who died in a road crash in Pulham Market. Picture: KYLE WARREN'S FAMILY

“He would go with the flow to keep everyone happy. He didn’t like to upset anyone - he was very caring and generous. He was really grown-up and a lot of people looked up to him. He’d do anything for anyone.

“He was very responsible and he tried to make sure he did everything right. He was well-mannered and always said his pleases and thank yous - he was very respectful of people.

“He’d always make people laugh, no matter what was going on. All he wanted to do was have a good time with his mates.”

She added that he was very protective and proud of his family and friends, always insisting on saying “love you” every time to his mum when they finished a conversation.

It was those which were the last words he said to Mrs Orford a few days before the devastating crash in Pulham Market, as she left Harleston to go on holiday to Kessingland near Lowestoft.

She described hearing the news that Kyle had died as “horrendous”, adding: “It’s just all so wrong. I assumed it would be him burying me. He was so young. I still expect him to come walking through the door.”